Pencil



F. FREYMAN Oef. 1, 1929.

PENCIL Filed Oct. 7. 1921 Figi.

INVENTQR.

uma 44 TToRNEYs.

Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STAT FRED FREYMAN, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS Application filed October?, 1921. Serial No. 506,041'. i

This invention relates to an improved pencil, and more particularly to an improved mechanical pencil which is fitted with improved lead-propelling and lead-holding means.

One of the objects of the invention resides in the production of a pencil of this character equipped with an improved lead-propelling mechanism, which mechanism can be cheaply manufactured and which operates simply and very efficiently.

Another object of the invention resides in the product-ion of a pencil provided with an improved means for retaining the lead in its protruded position in the pencil, said means positively holding the lead in position and accomplishing this without in any way cutting, marring, or scraping said lead.

The invention is illustrated in order to facilitate the description in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the complete pencil;

Fig. 2 is an illustration of the top portion of said pencil and shows the lead-propelling means and the housing for enclosing the same Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional 'view of the assembled pencil, taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the housing enclosing the lead-propelling means taken on the plane indicated on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged illustration of the tipend of the pencil;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the lead-propelling mechanism showing the lead-projector iiiits lowermost position, this section being similar to that shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view of the leadpropelling mechanism showing the lead-projector in its uppermost position.

The preferred embodiment of the pencil as illustrated in the drawings comprises an outer casing 10, the lower end of which is taperedpand tted with a tip 11, which tip carries an aperture 12, through which the lead 13 is fed. The tip 11 is secured by means of a member 15, to a sleeving 14, which sleeving acts as a cylindrical tube to guide the lead under the influence of the lead-projecl y tor through the aperture'12 in the tip 11.

Fitted over the lower end of the sleeving 14, as-clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, is an elastic tubing 15, which tubing serves to hold the lead in its projected position as it is propelled out of the aperture 12 bythe projecting mechanism. The elastic tubing 15 is so proportioned as to positively hold the leadv in its projected position, butwill nothold the lead so firmly as to interfere with the readymovement of the lead through said tubing when the lead is advanced under the influence of the lead-projecting mechanism. The tubing illustrated in the drawings-is the preferred form of using this elastic material for the purpose of holding the lead in its projected position. Obviously, however, any other form of elastic material mounted in the pencil in any other desired way could be used, provided it surrounded the lead to hold it in position. In the assembly of these various parts, the elastic tubing 15 and member 11 may be mounted on the end of sleeving 14, then inserted intothe tip 11 and finally secured. However, there are various ways of assembling these parts.

The elastic tubing or elastic material as utilized in this improved form of pencilfor the purpose of holding the lead in its projected position has the advantage over other forms of lead-holding means, such as springs, pins, etc., in thatit does not mar, scratch or scrape the lead. This is a decided advantage in the operation of an automatic lead pencil.. Because of the absence of such scratching, marring or scraping of the lead, the said lead will never become loose in the pencil no matter how often the lead is projected through the aperture 12 and then `pushed back through said aperture. In the operation of a pencil of this character the lead is frequently protruded through said aperture 12 for a distance greater than that desired, and under these circumstances the' protruding mechanism must be retracted and the lead pushed back into the pencil. When the lead is thus reciprocated in a pencil in which the holding means scrapes, mars or cuts the surface of the lead, the lead becomes loose in its retaining sleeve, then falls out, and writing with the pencil is extremely difficult. With the improved form of elastic holding-means illustrated and described herein the lead, in loading or filling the pencil, can also be inserted into the pencil through the aperture 12 without scraping or marring the lead and thus avoid a loose lead in the pencil when the lead is thus inserted. j

The sleeve 14 which serves to hold the lead in the lower portion of the pencil is preferably spun over at its upper end so as to loosely fit over a spacer 16 intermediate the outer casing of the pencil 10 and the sleeving 14,.`

Loosely fitting around they spacer 16 is a threaded bushing 17 which functions to interconnect with the casing 18 carrying the lead- Vprojecting means, as will be hereinafter described. The aperture in the elastic tubing 1,5 is of such a size that it will be firmly held in place on the sleeve 14 when stretched over said sleeve, as illustrated in Fig. 5. W'hen assembled in the pencil this rubber bushing 15 will be compressed between the inner wall of the tip 11 and the outer wall of the sleeve 14.

The lead-projecting means enclosed within the casing 18 is clearly illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The upper portion of the casing 18 projects beyond the outer casing 10 of the pencil, and the lowermost portion of the casing 18 is threaded as illustrated at 20, and engages the threads at the upper end of the sleeve or bushing 17.

Suspended within the casing 18 is the spiral spring 21, within which is carried the Vlead-projector 22. The lead-projector 22is 4fitted with a loop or straddler 23, clearly ilusthe partly threaded bushing 30. The busht-rated in Fig. 3,l which straddler encloses or hugs one of the turns of the spiral spring 21. The spiral spring 21 is secured to a bushing 24 in any suitable manner, preferably by soldering said spring to the bushing. This bushing 24 is adapted to turn freely in the upperY protruding portion ofthe casing or bushing 18. The bushing 24 is fitted with a semi-circular groove 25 which-extendsv around 4its surface and which groove is engaged by projections 28 contained in the'casing 1,8 which carries the lead-projecting apparatus, and which thus prevents lengthwise motion between the bushings or casings 24 and 18. Secured to the outside of the casing 18 is a knurled ring 26 which provides a grip used in engaging and disengaging the threads at 20 which interconnect the casing 18 and the bushing 17. The knurled ring 26 is preferably- 'tted with a pocket-clip 27, as illus- `trated in Fig. 1.

The upper end of the bushing 24 is secured by any suitable means, preferably solder, to

ing 30 is threaded at its upperl end to receive the eraser 31,` which said eraser is convenientlyY held in position in said bushing because vthe pencil. f Referring now to of said threads. rThe bushing 30 is prefer'- ably coated with a material 30 suitable for lgripping purposes. Obviously, any character of material can be used for this purpose such as hard rubber, bakelite, etc.

The casing or sleeving 18 is formed so as to represent substantially a Greek Cross, as clearlyl illustrated in Figure 4.- `The casing 18 given this shape so that the spiral spring 21 may be readily enclosed in the central portion of this casing and one of the arms, as for example 35 of said Greek cross section, can

'be'utilized to hold the loop or straddler 23 of the lead-,projector inposition, whereby, when the spring 21 is turned, because of the fact that the projector 22-is firmly held in position, saidprojector will either advance `or be retracted as, thes'traddler rides over the convolutions -of the spiral spring 21. The remaining pockets (Greek crossy arms), as for example 36 of the casing 18, are utilized as chambers for reserved leadsto be used with jector 22. The end of thechannel (Greek cross arm) in which the stradding portion 28 Y of the lead-projector 'slides is turned in as indicated at 37, so as to provide a definite stop for the lead-projector'22 and straddler r23 when it reaches its furthermost forward With the straddler 23 ridingrv r` vagainst the stop 37 .it will be evident that posit-ion.

as A'the spring is Irevolved by; means of the sleeve 30 in a clockwise direction, thesaid spring21 will be compressed until the .last turn of said spring slips over the straddler 23,` after which the spring will take its normal position as shown in Figure 3. j

When the lead-projector has been advanced to its furthermost forward position` it will consequently. merely compress the yspringV uponr continued rotation of the spring for one or two convolutions ofzsaid spring, and thus the said spring will never ,be placed under excessive compression. f 5 l,

v When the lead-projector is moved to its eX- treme upward positionby reversing the direction of rotation of the sleeve 30, that is turning said gripinla'counter-clockwise direction, it will assume the position shown i'n Figure7.lll

When the straddler 23 of the lead-projector reaches the position shown in Figure 7 upon vcontinued. rotation of t-he sleeve 30 in a counter-clockwise direction, thefstraddler 23 willA function als-a key in its channel 35:1(arm of the Greek cross), and because of this key action of the straddler the rotation of the sleeve 30 will disengage the sleeve or casing 18 from the sleeve 17 at the point oftheir threaded engagement illustrated at 20. Upon continued rotation the casing 18 will be completely disengaged from the sleeve 17, and thereupon the casing 18 together with the thread projecting mechanism can be withdrawn from the pencil casing 10.

Inthe operation of the pencil it is first necessary to load the same with a suitable lead such as 13. This can be accomplished either by inserting the lead through the aperture 12 of the tip 11, as hereinbefore described, or, in the alternative, the casing 18 can be removed from the pencil casing by.,disengagement of the threads at 2O interconnecting the casing 18 and the sleeve 17. When the casing 18 has been thus removed from the casing 10, the lead can be dropped into the casing 10 when it will assume its position in the sleeve 14 for guiding the lead or the lead-projector 22 can be retracted to its uppermost position, as shown at Figure 7, and the lead may then be positioned in the nest which is formed by the spiral spring and the end of the lead-projector 22. hen the lead has thus been inserted in this nest the casing 18 is reinserted into the casing 10 and screwed into position as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 3.

In order to advance the lead in the pencil the casing 10 is held secured in one hand and p the sleeve 30 is then rot-ated in a clockwise direction. This operation will cause the leadprojector to advance along the spiral spring 21 because of the interaction of the straddler 23 and the convolutions of said spring and the lead-projector in turn will advance the lead through the sleeve 14 and the elastic sleeving and out through the aperture 12 of the tipl11. If the lead 13 has been advanced further than desired the sleeve may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction which will retract the lead-projector, after which the lead 13 may be pushed into the pencil by pressure exerted on the end of said lead. The lead will then return into the pencil until the inner end thereof strikes the end of the lead-projector 22.

In advancing and retract-ing the lead-projector, it will be evident from the foregoing description that 'said lead-projector is moved l in either a forward or backward direction because of the rotation of the spiral spring 21 which is secured to the bushing 24, which is free to turn in its position in the nominal operation of advancing the lead independent of the casing 18, the bushing 24 being secured to the sleeve 30. The rotation of the bushing 24 with its associated spiral spring 21 does not in any way affect the casing 18 which is normally held immovable in the casing 10, as far as rotary movement is concerned, due to the rotation of the sleeve 30. Inasmuch as the casing 18 is held stationary during the period that the spiral spring 21 is rotated, and since the straddler 23 is held in one of the channels (arms of the Greek cross) of the casing 18, it

will be evident that as the spiral spring 21 is turned the straddler 23 will either move in a forward or backward direction on said spring, depending upon the direction of rotation of said spring 21.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the improved pencil as herein illustrated and described consists of a few simple parts which can be readily assembled and cheaply manufactured.

A pencil constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention will function so that the lead vof said pencil will move freely in its containing chambers under the influence of the lead-projector operated by a sim.-

ple propelling means, and said lead will be positively held in position and not tend to drop out because of any scraping action resulting from the contact between the lead and the means utilized to retain said lead in its advanced position.

Obviously, `the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described, but is capable of many variations and other applications as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, a lead-propelling means contained within said casing, a lead-guiding means, and a tubular elastic means fitted over the end of said guiding means adapted to retain the lead in its protruded position, the aperture of said tubular means having a diameter less than the diameter of the lead, the said means bein expanded when the lead is propelled t erethrough. I

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, a lead-propelling means contained within said casing,

said means comprising a container having a contour shaped like a Greek cross, a spiral spring suspended in said container, a leadprojecting rod suspended on the said spiral spring by a loop formed on one end of said rod which straddles a turn of said spring, the

said straddling loop being positioned in one' of the arms of said container.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, a lead-propelling means contained within said casing, said means comprising ,a container having a contour shaped substantially like a Greek cross, a'spiral spring suspended in said container, a lead-projecting rod cooperating with said spring, part of said rod being positioned within said spring and part of said rod being positioned in one arm of said con tainer.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, a lead-propelling means contained within said casing,

said means comprising a sleeving having a contour shaped substantially like a Greek cross, one or more arms of the said Greek cross container being adapted to serve as chambers for reserve leads for said pencil.

5. In a device o the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, a lead guiding-means, a container, having a contour shaped substantially like a. Greek cross, a spiral spring loosely suspended in said container, and a rod cooperating with said spring, said rod having a portion thereof positioned in one of the arms of the said conf tainer, said spring and rod cooperating as the spring is rotated to advance said rod and ythereby advance the pencil lead in the lead guiding means.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, a. lead-guiding means, a container enclosed within said pencil casing, said container having a contour shaped substantially like a Greek ci'oss, a spiral spring 'reel suspended in the center portion of said lreek cross container, a rod cooperating with said spring, `a loop positioned in one end of said rod, which loop encloses the wire composing said spring, said loop being enclosed in one of the arms of said Greek cross container, means whereby said spiral spring may be rotated, the rotation oi' said spring advancing said rod and thereby advancing the lead of the pencil through said lead-guiding means.

7. A device of the character described comprising a pencil casing, lead propelling means therein, a container or said lead propelling means secured by a screw-threaded engagement in said pencil casing, said lead propel-- ling means being arranged to travel in said container, means for operating said lead propelling means, said lead propelling means interlocking with said container when reach- ,ing the end of its retracted position whereby vin said pencil, and means for freeing said rod from engagement with said turns of said spring when said rod reaches its extreme lead advancing position.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, lead propelling means disposed therein comprising a spiral spring, means to rotate said spring, a push rod with a lateral projection operatively associated with said spring, and means detachably connected by a screw-threaded engagement with said casing to limit the movement of said rod to a longitudinal motion and interlocking with said rod at the upper limit of said motion whereby said rod and spring maybe removed from the casing by continued operation of said rotating means. y

y 1Q.l In a device of the character described, in combination, a pencil casing, a lead propelling means comprisingga rotatable spiral spring, an axially movable lead projector actuated by said spring, means for rotating said spring, and means connected by screw threads to said casing yfor preventing rotation of while allowing longitudinal motion p oit' said lead, the last said means interlocking with said projector when said projector reaches its extreme retracted position whereby to remove said spring and said projector from said casing by continued operation of said rotating means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

. FRED FREYMAN. 

